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PLACES IN DORCHESTER 



TO VISIT 



During Old-Home Week 



July 28 to August 3, 1907 




Compiled by 

JAMES H. STARK 

Vice-President of the Dorchester Historical Society 




CHARLES LOGUE 



Chairman Executive Committee 
Dorchester Old-Home Week Association 



ISSUED BY THE DORCHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



PLACES IN DORCHESTER 



TO VISIT 



During Old- Home Week 



July 28 to August 3, 1907 




Compiled by 

JAMES H. STARK 

Vice-President of the Dorchester Historical Society 








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ThtSoeialjr 
25Aff'08 



HISTORY OF THE OLD BLAKE HOUSE 

The old Blake home should be one of the first places visited 
by the Old Home comers. It can be reached by the Dorchester 
avenue or Edward Everett square cars, South Boston and Columbia 
Road, Mattapan and Columbia Road, or Meeting House Hill and 
Columbia Road cars. It is one of the very best specimens of early 
colonial architecture in New England. It is owned and occupied 
by the Dorchester Historical Society. It is open free on Tuesdays 
and Saturdays from 2 to 5 P. M., and during the whole of Old 
Home week, from 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. 

On April 6, 1891, William H. Whitmore, city registrar, and 
James H. Stark obtained a special act of the legislature incorpor- 
ating the Dorchester Historical Society. This society succeeded 
the Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society, which was or- 
ganized on January 27, 1843; but at the organizing of the new so- 
ciety its membership had been reduced to but three members, name- 
ly: Edmund J. Baker, president; Henry G. Denny, secretary, and 
William B. Trask, curator. 

The new society started with a membership of 25. Since then 
many of the best known and influential men of the old town have 
become members. 

Among the results of the society's work may be mentioned the 
observance of the 274th anniversary of the settlement of Dorchester 
and the inauguration of Dorchester day, which is now a fixture 
and under the auspices of the society the anniversary is observed 
yearly, and is practically a "Home Coming" for the residents of old 
Dorchester that are scattered throughout the land. Business houses 
and private residences are elaborately decorated. There are pa/- 
rades, addresses, regattas, ringing of bells, fireworks, etc. 

The principal purpose of the society is to collect, preserve, and 
publish information concerning the ancient town of Dorchester. 

The activity and industry of its members since its incorporation 
have contributed much to the general interest in colonial and revo- 
lutionary annals, and many scenes of national historic importance 
before unheeded and almost unkown have become through research 
and publication familiar. 

April 11, 1894, the society celebrated the 100th anniversary of 
the birth of Edward Everett, who was born in the old mansion on 

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the corner of Boston and Pond streets at the "Five Corners." A 
public meeting was held in Winthrop Hall, at which delegations 
from the- board of aldermen and common council took part in the 
services. An eloquent oration was delivered by Rev. James De 
Normandie, and addresses were made by Alderman Boardman Hall, 
Dr. Elbridge Smith, and others. James H. Stark gave a history of 
the Edward Everett mansion, which prior to the Revolution was 
owned by Thomas Oliver, the last royal lieutenant-governor of 
Massachusetts. A finely illustrated volume was afterward published 
under the direction of William H. Whitmore, the president of the 
society, giving a full account of the proceedings. The one thing 
that the society stood in most need of since its existence was a 
building in which it could hold its meetings and store its archives 
and historic treasures. The meetings in the past had been held at 
the residence of its members; but it has now a headquarters which 
it can call its own, and that, too, in a historic location and building. 

OLD BLAKE HOME SECURED. 

The city purchased a lot of land to be used for greenhouse pur- 
poses on Massachusetts avenue, near Five Corners, Dorchester, 
On this lot was situated one of the oldest colonial nouses in Dor- 
chester, which was offered to the Historical Society, if they would 
remove the same. John H. Blake and Dr. Clarence J. Blake, de- 
scendants of the settlers who built the house, and other members 
of the family, very generously offered $1,000 towards the expense 
of moving and restoring it. Another $1,000 was subscribed by mem- 
bers and others. The city allowed the building to be moved upon 
the triangular piece of land at the junction of Pond street and the 
parkway, at the Five Corners, opposite the Edward Everett man- 
sion. This land was given to the city a few years ago by the late 
Mr. Richardson, the owner of the Edward Everett house, and was 
near the site of the first town meeting house and first free school. 
The city also contributed another $1,000 for grading and laying out 
the grounds surrounding the building. 

The society is fitting the home up in colonial style. The furni- 
ture is being given by the descendants of the early Dorchester set- 
tlers, many of whom still reside in Dorchester and who avail them- 
selves of this opportunity of preserving and handing down to future 
generations their family heirlooms. A portion of the building is 
set off for a museum and library, which contains relics of the In- 
dians and early Dorchester settlers and every work obtainable relat- 
ing to the early history of the town. 

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The following history of the old Blake house was prepared and 
read by James H. Stark at a recent meeting of the society, and was 
greatly appreciated by the members: 

William Blake, the emigrant, came to Dorchester about 1636, 
and like many other of the Dorchester settlers, he came from Somer- 
setshire. He was the grandson of John Blake and the son of Wil- 
liam, of Over Stowey, Somersetshire, England. His son James 
Blake, was born in England in 1624, and died in Dorchester January 
28, 1700. He married Elizabeth Clapp, the daughter of Deacon Ed- 
ward Clapp, of Dorchester. He was much in public business, as 
the records of Dorchester prove. From 1658 to 1685 we find him in 
some oflfice almost every year; was a selectman thirteen years, 
rater, constable, deputy to general court, clerk of the writs, re- 
corder, sergeant in the military company, which was then an office 
of honor, and was chosen deacon of the church, and ordained to 
that office January 30, 1672. He served as deacon about fourteen 
years, and was then chosen ruling elder, and served about the 
same length of time, until his death, both making twenty-eight years 
wanting two days. Tradition says, and after the most careful ex- 
amination of old documents I think there is no doubt of it, that he 
built the house (lately owned and occupied by Mrs. Jane Williams, 
in the north part of Dorchester, west from Captain William Clapp's 
tanyard, and north of Mr. Pettee's house, back from the street), and 
owned a farm adjoining. The house was doubtless built previous 
to 1650. A photograph of it has been taken as it now appears, and 
is here presented. I have no doubt that this is the property de 
scribed in his will, where he says, "I give and bequeath to my son 
John Blake, and his heirs, my dwelling house, barns, orchard, yard 
garden and ten acres of land adjoining, more or less, it being part 
ly upland and partly meadow," valued at £400. The house is re 
ferred to in the Dorchester town records, page 209. When "at a 
general meeting of the town the 6 (10) 1669, it was put to the 
vote" to build a house for the ministry. "To be such a house as 
James Blak's house is, namely, 38 foote in length and 20 footewid 
and 14 foote betweene Joynts gert worke. The Vote was in the 
Affirmative." It is evident that this is the same house, as it corre- 
sponds to the above measurements. 

FARMER. BUT A PENMAN. 

This estate was retained in the Blake family till the year 1825. 
The bequest to his son Joseph of one 20-acre lot (more or less), 
"bounded on the one side with the land late of Samuel and Increase 
Sumner, and on the other side with the land of Captain Clap," must 

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have been in this locality. He was probably a farmer, but his time 
must have been taken up with other objects. In addition to the 
time spent in municipal and church affairs, he was frequently en- 
gaged in settling estates, as overseer of the will of some friend or 
neighbor, or guardian of orphan children, in writing deeds and 
other instruments, etc. I will mention here, by the way, that he 
was a most beautiful penman. But few of the present day can 
exhibit chirography that will compare favorably with his which is 
now extant. 

It appears that he had a peculiar character, such as sound 
judgment and discretion, a faculty for leading others in important 
undertakings, and especially strong faith in his "glorious God and 
Redeemer," as he expressed it in his last will and testament. 

JOHN BLAKE, 1657. 

John Blake, who thus became the second owner of the property, 
was born March 16, 1657. We know but very little of his life, ex- 
cept that he was a deacon of the church, as his father had been 
before him. In our search through the last wills and testaments of 
the forefathers of the state we are apt to learn more about their 
deaths than their lives. The will is the final summing up of life's 
work. It is a record of the children then living, for in nearly all 
cases the children are all mentioned. It tells the story of a man's 
prosperity. It records the increase of the ten talents or the single 
one. Taken all together, wills are, perhaps, the most valuable ad- 
juncts to family history that can be obtained. 

John Blake, however, left no will; and, as he was but 60 years 
of age when he died, March 2, 1718, it may have been that death 
overtook him suddenly. His widow, Hannah, was appointed to 
administer the estate. The dwelling house was valued at £50, and 
two barns at £20. We found an agreement on the Suffolk probate 
records concerning the settling of the estate, in which it states 
that, whereas the said Deacon John Blake died intestate, yet not 
with declaring what his will and pleasure was as to the settling of 
his estate after his decease, which was as follows: 

THE WILL. 

"His mind was that his two daughters, Hannah and Elizabeth, 
should have a convenient Room in the House so long as they or 
either of them should Remaine unmarried and no longer, and that 
they should not have the liberty of letting or in any manner to con- 
vey their Rights therein to any other person." 

This agreement was dated November 29, 1719. 

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His two sons, John and Josiah, inherited the estate jointly. 
Josiah, who was a weaver, died first in 1748. The inventory of his 
estate contains "his part of a Dwelling House and the Shop adjoin- 
ing thereto, and one-half of Barn and ye one-half of about 15 acres 
of land and Meadow adjoining thereto in Old Town, Bills of credit 
ye sum of £700." Among the funeral charges was cash paid to James 
Foster for grave stones, £7. (These stones were obtained from the 
old state quarry on the Foster estate in South Boston,) The real 
estate passed to his brother, John. Josiah Blake probably died 
childless, 

A "CORDWAINER." 

John Blake was a cordwainer, or shoemaker, as we should say 
now. He died about the first of the year 1773, leaving no will. The 
inventor}', filed January 15, 1773, included one-half of a barn and 
the hay, half a dwelling house and 13 1-4 acres upland and meadow, 
all valued at £156 9s. 4d. We are unable to tell who owned the 
other half of the house, or, if, as seemed probable, John Blake owned 
it all, why it was not included in the list of his possessions. When 
the estate was divided, his son Samuel received the "westerly part 
of the dwelling house, called the kitchen end, and also one-third 
part of the cellar." The three daughters, Elizabeth, Hannah and 
Rachel, who seem to have been all unmarried at the time, were 
given the remainder of the house and cellar and half of the barn. 

The eldest son, John, reserved the customary double portion 
of the estate, but no part of the house. 

IN THIS CENTURY. 

Samuel died in 1781, and the inventory of his property does not 
mention the house, from which we judge that he made over his 
share to his sisters. At all events, when the house was sold in 
1825 to Caleb Williams, it was occupied by Miss Rachel Blake, the 
youngest daughter of John. 

Caleb Williams died in 1842, and left the house and land to his 
widow Jane and two minor children. The interest of the minors 
was bought by their guardian, Jane, through a third party, in 1847. 

Jane Williams left the property to her son, Josiah F. Williams, 
in 1891. He sold same to Antonia Quinser in 1892. Quinser sold the 
estate to the city of Boston. 

The old house stood on historic ground, and in the midst of sev- 
eral other landmarks and memorials of old Dorchester. On Boston 
street at corner of Dorset street was the Dorchester Lines, extend- 
ing from Old Harbor to the South Bay, forming the right wing of 

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the American Army aurlng the seige of Boston Ol-^ D-f^.t'^^'' 
;':.in, .round, where so many not.d P^rso- Ue ts a -st tn s^^^^^ 
The home o£ Lieutenant-Governor Oliver, the birth place oi 
Terett. was close hy, ana In front of it on f «J^-f °X gt^. 
the site where the first town meeting was held in the Umted 
Ind Where the first free puhlic school -li;^'^^lf^^lZ^t 
on which the old Blake house is now placed, and where we 

will remain for centuries to come. 

PIECES TO VISIT NEAR THE OLD BLAKE HOUSE. 
Nearlv opposite the BlaUe house on the corner of Po-^ a^d B°- 

ton rests stood, until recently the «'ul^mans.on home,^^bu.lt 

^■^ "^^^• -r:tr;:ia:d^:f Antir;-"^^^^^^^^ -^ -- 
i-;o%;i::rH-s^:::.Tfiomaswasth^^^^^^^^^^ 

the ^^°^^^^ ^J^Zt:^S:IZ. l^nfiscated. He lived 
that remained lojal to tne So^« •„ iqip; a-ed 82 In 1-92 it 

in England for nearly 40 years. ^^^^^ ^lUie 1^^ son. Edward 
was hought hy H-,f;-,^r^rwara'on Boston street hy this 
Everett, was born. Apnl 11. I'S-'ltw eventful night. 

house that Washington's -™^;. P--\,.°° j^ok possession of Dor- 
March 4th. 1776. when the C^n tnental a.m, Wo i ^^^ 
Chester HeigMs. -M<=h ^^ *« *e evacviat.^^ _^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^„ 
corner of Boston and Do! set sue ^^^ ^^^^. 
which extended from 01 Harbo .o th SoUh ^^^y^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ 

pied by *!;f "^;:"=; ,.: 'el-merly known as "Five Cor- 
Boston. 1..0-6. The «<1"^'« ^^^ (^„,ous man born here 

ners," has been — ' '^^^^f ^^eVeU square and that portion of 
and is now known as Ldwaid ^ve J^ Columbia 

Boston street >>-'"V\ra tl a -TthTs -d. is the old Dor- 
voad. about a quarter of ^^ ^.^^^ ,, 163, ,„„ is one of 
Chester burying ground. It ws .^ situated 

irthTcorrTc^U^-rd rnd"sto^ghton street, there have 

,een about 8.000 ^"™'^;"^f„::;;:.^owned citizens of early Dor- 
It contains the remams of manwe ^^^^^ ^^^^^_^^_ ^.^ 

Chester. Among *-«;- .^^^\,^ * General Humphrey Atherton, 
Stoughton. Rev. Jos.ah Fl.nt. Mo^ ,^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^.^ „j B„. 
Isaac Royal and many otheis. ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ .^ America, 
nardCapen, who died mW.^^ ^.^^^^.^ Genealogical 

rci:rLi" '^V tireonier of the burying ground, next to 

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Stoughton and Columbia road, a number of rough flat stones will be 
noticed lying flat on the ground. These mark the oldest interments 
in the cemetery and were placed thus to prevent the wolves from 
disturbing the bodies. 

A history of the burying ground has been written by John A. 
Fowle and published by the Dorchester Historical Society, copies of 
which can be obtained of Mr. Burnes, the custodian of the cemetery. 

TOWN MEETING SQUARE. 

Here was established the flrst town meeting and first free school, 
supported by a direct tax in America. To reach this spot the visitor 
will return to the old Blake home and walk along a few hundred 
yards either on Cottage or Pond streets, will arrive at Town Meeting 
square, which is formed by Pond, Cottage and Pleasant streets. 
About June 1st, 1630, the Mary and John with the Dorchester set- 
tlers came into Massachusetts Bay, the first vessel to arrive of the 
great Winthrop fleet and settled here two months before Charles- 
town was settled and one year before Boston. "The trading men" 
settled at Rock Hill on which they built a fort. The farmers set- 
tled here and built their first meeting house, about twelve feet high, 
constructed of logs with a thatched roof, surrounded with palisades. 
Military stores were deposited in it and guns mounted on it from 
fear of the Indians, it was also used as a town house and school- 
house and for some time was used by the inhabitants of Roxbury as 
a place of worship. 

The important order which established the first town govern- 
ment in New England was on the 8th of October, 1633; at 8 o'clock 
each Monday morning at the beating of the drum the inhabitants 
were to assemble in the meeting house "to settle such orders as may 
tend to the general good, every man to be bound without gainsaying 
or resistance," etc. 

In 1635 the general court granted Thompsons Island to Dorches- 
ter and in 1639 the town voted to lay a tax of £20 upon the proprie- 
tors of this island "for the maintenance of a school in Dorchester," 
this was the first public provision made for a free school in America 
by a direct tax or assessment on the inhabitants of a town. 

On the opposite corner, the lot extending from Pleasant street 
to Dorchester avenue. Major General Humphrey Atherton dwelt. He 
was the originator of the first trained band of Dorchester. He led 
an expedition against the Narragansett Indians. In 1656 he was 
made major-general, the highest military officer in the colony. He 
was town treasurer and selectman. He died Sept. 16, 1661. 

Pleasant street, formerly Green lane, is the oldest street in 

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Dorchester. It connected the settlers that settled at Savin Hill with 
those that settled here. By following this road to Rock Hill, as it 
was firsf called, and then Old Hill, and now Savin Hill, the visitor 
will pass, on the corner of Pleasant street and Savin Hill avenue, 
the site of the residence of Governor Stoughton. Here settled 
Israel Stonghton, who built the first mill in New England to grind 
corn by water. It stood on the Neponset River, where Milton now 
is. He was commander-in-chief of the forces of the colony in the 
first war against the Pequot Indians, and was much esteemed among 
the people, and at his death left a large estate for those times. His 
son. Governor William Stoughton, was probably the greatest man 
that ever lived in the town. He was a great friend to education, 
and built Stoughton Hall at Harvard College. He died July 7, 1701. 
After his death the place was owned and occupied by his nephew, 
Lieutenant-Governor Taller. 

On the opposite corner of Pleasant street and Sawyer avenue 
stood till recently the Governor Gardner house. It was built pre- 
vious to the Revolution and had the appearance of the upper part 
of an excursion steamer. 

Turning into Savin Hill avenue and following same over Dor- 
chester avenue and the railroad bridge, the visitor will come to . 

ROCK HILU OLD HILL, SAVIN HILL, 

as it has been known at various times since the settlement. At the 
southeast corner of Savin Hill avenue and Denny street, is where 
the home of the first Deputy Governor, Roger Ludlow, was built. 
Governor Winthrop states that "Mr. Ludlow, in digging the founda- 
tion of his home in Dorchester, found two pieces of French money; 
one was coined in 1596. They were in several places and about a 
foot within the firm ground." This shows that the Indians had deal- 
ings with the French before the English came here. During the War 
of 1812 there was a line of earthworks extending from this spot 
around the southeast side of the hill as far as Evendale Terrace, on 
the top of the bluff near the shore line. On this spot, also, dwelt 
the Indians, there having been found many Indian relics and skele- 
tons here. When Roger Ludlow removed to Connecticut he dis- 
posed of this property to Thomas Hawkins, a prominent ship builder, 
who removed to Boston in 1642. 

On the opposite side of the street, ascending the hill, is Wood- 
land avenue. This road will take the visitor to the top of the 
hill, where the first fort was constructed, by the following order in 
the Dorchester town records: "The 6th January, Mooneday, leSS^. 

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It is ordered that there shall be a fort made upon the Rocke, above 
Mr. Johnson's, etc." 

The visitor in ascending the hill except by the path will plunge 
into a wilderness, where in some instances progress is forbidden by- 
beetling cliffs and thorny thickets. The hill is a great rock, and 
with its woods, and the magnificent view that can be obtained of the 
surrounding country from its summit — where ye great guns were 
mounted — cannot be surpassed by any other place in the vicinity 
of Boston. From time immemorial it has been used by the people 
for a picnic ground, and it should be reserved for this purpose be- 
fore it is built on and it becomes too late, and posterity will bless 
those who save it from destruction. 

On the northwest side of the hill, off Savin Hill avenue, near the 
quarry, is an ancient, hip-roofed house that was used by Washing- 
ton's army during the siege of Boston as a barracks. Near it 
formerly stood another building that was used for the same pur- 
poses. These houses were known as the Baker houses and were 
probably built by James and John Baker, the sons of Richard Baker, 
the first settler. On the south side of the hill is a fine bathing 
beach and playground, with free public baths, and which the visitor 
should certainly make use of. 

After leaving Savin Hill, the visitor will notice on the right 
hand side of the street, next to the bridge, the 

TUTTLE HOUSE 
in front of which stands a magnificent widespreading elm tree over 
150 years old. The Tuttle house is the oldest seaside hotel in the 
vicinity of Boston; 75 years ago it was patronized by the wealthiest 
and most fashionable of Boston families. 

Taking a Milton car on the corner of Dorchester Ave., the vis- 
itor should go south to Milton Lower Mills. At the transfer station 
at Fields Corner the Christopher Gibson playground will be passed 
on the right. This land was purchased in 1693 by the executors of 
the will of Christopher Gibson made in 1674, who directed that 
they should purchase some estate for the "promoting of learning 
in the town of Dorchester." 

MILTON LOWER MILLS. 

On the Neponset River that separates Dorchester from Milton is 
situated the famous Walter Baker Chocolate Mills, the largest in the 
world. This spot is the most famous mill site on this continent. In 
1633 Israel Stoughton built a grist mill here that ground the first 
corn ever ground in New England. In 1675 there was erected here 
the first powder mill in this country. In 1765, on the same spot 
now occupied by the extensive buildings of the Baker Chocolate 

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Company was erected the mill for the manufacture of the first choc- 
olate made in the British provinces of North America. Higher up 
the river at Mattapan was erected the first paper mills in this coun- 
try. 

Crossing the bridge over the Neponset River, the visitor is in 
the town of Milton. On the left will be seen an old Colonial man- 
sion with several magnificent English elms in front of same, which 
are probably two centuries old. This is the Vose house, in which the 
"Suffolk resolves" were passed which led to the Revolution. There 
is a marble tablet on the front of the house with a suitable inscrip- 
tion on same. 

Proceeding up Milton Hill, a few hundred yards from the bridge 
the visitor will come to the residence of Governor Hutchinson, the 
• last royal civil governor of Massachusetts, situated on the corner of 
Adams and Hutchinson streets, on the crest of Milton Hill. The 
view from here is one of the most beautiful in the vicinity of Bos- 
ton. To the south, across a beautiful valley, is the Blue Hills, called 
by the Indians the "Massachusetts" or "the place of the great hills," 
and from which the State has derived its name. They appear like 
mountains rising through the atmosphere charged with fragrant 
mists from the intervening blossoming fields. On the north, across 
the road, in front of the house, is the Governor Hutchinson Field, 
with a bronze tablet let into the stone wall, informing the public 
that some generous Milton citizens had purchased the field and 
donated it to the public, to be forever kept open. This field 
slopes towards the beautiful Neponset River, along which 
there is a delightful walk. In the remote distance is seen the 
rocky Brewster, on which is situated the white lighthouse mark- 
ing the edge of the ocean. The view from this spot is the same 
today as it was when the governor resided here and he described 
to the king when he reached England. He said: "My home is 7 or 
8 miles from Town, a pleasant situation, and most gentlemen 
from aboard say it has the finest prospect they ever saw, except 
when great improvements have been made by art to keep the natur^ 
al view." Art has since added to its beauties, for the house has 
b^een remodeled and the surrounding estates have become the homes 
of millionaires. 

June 1st, 1774, the Governor turned away from his beautiful 
mansion and walked down Milton Hill to the Lower Mills, nodding- 
and smiling to his neighbors on this side and that, it is said, whether 
Whig or Tory, he was good friends with all. He was in a cheerful 
mood on that day when he left his home and native land forever, for 

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had not the best people of the province approved of him, and 
shown him strong marks of favor? He had no thoughts of a last- 
ing absence. He was going to England to give an account of his 
stewardship to his royal master. 

At the foot of the hill he crossed the river and there met his 
carriage, next year to be confiscated and appropriated to the use of 
Washington. In it he rode along Adams, Boston and Dorchester 
streets to South Boston Point; then embarking in a boat, he was 
rowed to Castle Island, the last bit of soil of his native land to feel 
his footfall. From here he embarked on the warship Minerva for 
England, where he was immediately received by the King. 

There was few sadder cases connected with the Revolution than 
that of Governor Hutchinson. He wrote in 1778: "The changes in 
the last four or five years of my life make the whole scene, when I 
look back upon it, appear like a dream, or other delusion. From the 
possession of one of the best houses in Boston, the pleasantest 
house and fd,rm at Milton of almost any in the world, and one of the 
best estates in the colony of Rhode Island, with an affluent income, 
I have not now a foot of land at my command and am dependent on 
the bounty of government for a pension." Governor Hutchinson 
was descended from one of the oldest and most noted of Massachu- 
setts families, the first of whom was the celebrated Ann Hutchinson, 
the wife of William, who came over in 16o4 — "That woman of ready 
and bold spirit, more than a match for her reverend and magisterial 
inquisitors." No public man of this State ever received more slander 
personal abuse, and misrepresentation than he, and no other son of 
Masaachusetts ever did so much to benefit and advance the inter- 
est of the state as he. Among other great achievements of his was 
the establishing of the present boundaries of this State. Berkshire 
County would now be a part of New York State but for Hutchinson. 
He was a sincere lover of his country, a patient student of her his- 
tory, a skilful man of affairs, an upright and merciful judge, and be- 
yond all question he was the greatest and most famous man Massa- 
chusetts has ever produced. 

John Adams said of Governor Hutchinson before he became his 
bitter enemy: "Have not his merits been sounded very high by his 
countrymen for 20 years? Have not his countrymen loved, ad- 
mired, revered him? Have not ninety-nine in a hundred of them 
really thought him the greatest and best man in America? Has not 
the perpetual language of many members of both Houses, and a 
majority of his brother counsellors been that Mr. Hutchinson is a 
great man, a pious, a wise, a learned, a good man, an eminent saint, 

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a philosopher, etc.? Nay, have not the affections and admiration of 
his countrymen arisen so high as often to style him the greatest and 
best man in the world, that they never saw nor heard nor read of 
such a man — a sort of apotheosis like that of Alexander and that of 
Caesar, while they lived?" (John Adams, Diary, March 17, 1766.) 

This courtly representative of an ancient and honorable family, 
once so beloved, unable to discern, or unwilling to adopt, the course 
of the Revolutionists, hindered, perhaps, by his great possessions, 
preferred to remain on the side that represented law and authority, 
and so drew upon himself the wrath of the Revolutionists. He died 
a broken-hearted exile, looking fondly back to his birthplace in 
sunny Garden Court street, and his beautiful home in Milton, sacri- 
ficing all his worldly possessions on the altar of loyalty. 

In returning, after crossing the bridge the visitor should take a 
car via River street to Mattapan, and then by the Blue Hill avenue 
parkway to Franklin Park. This is the most delightful electric car 
ride in Dorchester, and Franklin Park is Boston's largest park, con- 
taining 900 acres. It is connected by parkways and electric cars 
with all parts of Boston and its suburbs. The park contains every 
variety of scenery and most beautiful views. The park system of 
Boston is considered the finest in America. It has a continuous drive 
of 18 miles, which passes through every variety of scenery — beauti- 
ful gardens, forests, rivers, lakes and seashore. Every visitor to 
Boston should take a drive through the park system. It is an excur- 
sion never to be forgotten. 



OTHER PLACES TO VISIT. 

The Governor Gardner house stood on Pleasant street, corner of 
Sawyer avenue, and was built prior to the Revolution. It was a 
near neighbor of the Appleton house, which still stands on Pleasant 
street. 

Jones' Hill, so named from Thomas Jones, one of the first set- 
tlers, lies between Pleasant, Stoughton, Freeport and Hancock 
streets. John Wiswell, John Mosely and Preserved Capen were 
among those who built their homes on the hill. 

Old School House, 1771, now standing Freeport, opposite 
Pleasant street. 

The Town Landing, so called, was east of Dorchester avenue, 
opposite Greenmount street. 

(15) 



MEETING HOUSE HILL. 

Sites of: 

Third Meeting House, 1676-8—1743. 

Fourth Meeting House, 1743—1816. 

Fifth Meeting House, 1816—1896. 

Sixth Meeting House, 1897. 

On Bowdoin street, a part of the old house which stood on the 
Governor Bowdoin estate — removed a short distance from its 
original site — still stands. 

The Walter Baker mansion on Washington street, corner of 
Park, was built in 1750. Colonel Benjamin Hichborn bought the 
house after the Revolution, and occupied it until he died in 1817. 
It became the property of James Penniman and was sold by him to- 
Walter Baker, who occupied it as a residence until 1891. Now 
Colonial Club. 

Barnard Capen house, erected prior to 1637, stands on Washing- 
ton street, opposite Melville avenue. 

The Welles house was occupied in 1784 by General Henry Knox, 
and afterward by Daniel Webster; the Henry L. Pierce School 
stands on its site. Directly opposite was the home of Major With- 
ington, and was torn down in 1870. 

Captain Roger Clap's home still stands on Willow court, off 
Boston street. Was enlarged by Captain Lemuel Clap in 1767, 

The Humphreys house stands on the corner of Dudley and 
Humphrey streets. The estate has been in the possession of the 
family since 1634, and is still occupied by one of the family. The 
present house was erected about the time of the Revolution. 

Tide Mill, 1646, Mill street, near Neponset avenue. 

Robert Pierce house is on Oak avenue, just off Adams street, in 
the lower road; was erected previous to 1640, the central portion 
being the oldest. 



DORCHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



OFFICERS — 1907 



President, RICHARD C. HUMPHREYS 

Vice-President, JAMES H. STARK 

Secretary and Treasurer, JOHN A. FOWLE 



KEENAN, PRINTER 




THOMAS H. KEENAN 

Secretary Executive Committee 
Dorchester Old-Home Week Association 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 077 477 7 ^ 




JAMES P. MAGENIS 



President 
Dorchester Old-Home Week Association 



